Aircraft engine



' (No Model.) 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1.

0. A. BENKENDORF.

AIR DRAFT ENGINE, No. 395,418. Patented Jan. 1, 1889.v

1 27.1. M M 2 5w! 12W WW 2W ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. A. BENKENDORF.

AIR DRAFT ENGINE.

Patented Ja n. 1, 1889.

WITNE SES': w

INVENTOR:

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. ATTORNEYS.

Nv PETERS vhnmumo n her, Washin ton, 04 c.

' UNlTE TATns ATENr Orricn.

OTTO A. BENKENDORF, OF \VILMOT, KANSAS.

AIR=DRAFT ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,418, dated January1, 1.889.

Application filed January 28, 1888. Serial No. 262,247. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO A. BENKIJNDORF,

- of Wihnot, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Air-D raft Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an engine or motor designed to utilizethe power of ascending currents of air rising from convection; and tothis end. it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement ofwheels and air-guides upon a vertical rotary shaft, as will behereinafter fully described.

Figure l is a perspective view of the lower part of the air-flue andgears. Fig. 9 is an interior view of the air-flue, showing thearrangement of the wind-wheels, shaft, shaftbearings, air-guides, andregulator. l ig. 3 is a plan viewof one of the wind-wheels. Fig. 4 is across-section of the air-flue just above one of the airguides. Fig. 5represents details of the shaft-bearing and the stay-rod for holding it.Fig. (i a perspective view of the top of the air-flue.

In the drawings, A represents a vert ical air-.

flue, which, as shown, is constructed of a wellbraced frame-work casedin to form a smooth uninterrupted draft within. Instead of making thisflue of wood it maybe made of sheetiron, brick, or any other material.This flue should extend a considmrable distance up into the airsay, forinstance, fifty feet. \Vithin the same is arranged in bearings thevertical shaft 1), which at 1 lower end is stepped in a bearing, 1*. Tothe lower end of this shaft is rigidly fixed a bevel gear-wheel, whichengages another bevel gear'wheel, D, at right anglcs to it, which beveF, from which latter the power is transmitted by a belt to the point ofutilization.

The shaft B extends a suitable distance up the air-il11e-say twenty feetor moreand is provided at regular intervals with horizontal wind-wheelsH. These wheelsare constructed, in any desired manner, with inclinedblades, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 3, and the air in rising in theline strikes against these inclined blades and imparts the rotary motionto the shaft,which turns the gears below. Between the wind-wheels withinthe flue are ar- .ar D is fixed upon 5 a horizontal shaft, E, carrying abamlpulley,

ranged the air-guides I. These are fixed in a stationary manner in theflue and in vertical position, and serve to prevent the air-currentsfrom turning spirally in the flue, and thus compelling the air to strikefairly against and turn the wind wheels. These guides are formed ofvertical slats attacherl. to stay-rods d d. The lower set ay-rods, d,are fastened to a ring, f, that encircles the shaft, and the upper setof stay-rods, d, are fastened to the bearings e c for the shaft, andwhen these stay-rods are tightened up by means of the nuts at theirouter ends the shaft-bearing is held in position and adjusted undertension. By this construction very small. light metal rods (1 d areused, which do not obstruct the upward ai r-curreuts, as would the heavycrosstimbers.

The bearings for the shaft are made in two sections, 6 e, boltedtogether around the shaft. These sections are formed with a lip orflange provided with holes 6 into which are hooked the inner ends of thestay-rods (1. One of the sections, e, of the bearing is formed with anoil-receptacle, e, which, through a channel, 6 conununicates with theinner periphery of the hearing which is in contact with the shaft.

At the bottomof the air fiue is arranged the clraftn'egulator, whichconsists of a series of horizontal slats or dampers, G, loosely pivotedbetween vertical partitions G, and having outside the fluescasingcrank-arms G which are connected to a bar, G, and which bar G is in turnconnected to a rod, G which is attached to a screw-nut traveling onscrewshaft it", bearing hand wheel or crank G By turning thisscrew-shaft it will be seen that the dampers are opened or closed moreor less, as may be desired. The obj ectof the partitions G is to causethe air-currents, which rise through the dampers, to ascend verticallyand thus counteract the tendency of the currents to pass to one side,which is liable to occur when the dampers are only partly open and in aninclined position.

To facilitate the inspection of the shaft and the oiling of its journalsa set of steps or ladder-rungs, a, are attached to the outside of the'air-flue, and doors I) are provided in the easing along its height togive access to the interior.

The device thus described can be set up anywhere, and will run so as tofurnish a considerable power without any cost other than that of firstconstruction and the Wear and tear of machinery. The upward draft may bestimulated by heat from below or by a Ventilating-cowl on the top of theline; butI find that under ordinary conditions the variation intemperature between the air in the hue and that outside is suflicientalone to produce a Very considerable draft of air adapted to furnish apower for many useful purposes. By painting the flue black, so as toabsorb the suns rays, the clficacy of the flue may be increased.

Having thus described my in vent ion, what I claim as new is Thecombination, with the upright air-line and revolving shaft bearinghorizontal windwheels, of the bearings for said shaft, tension- 20 rods-(Z (1, connecting said bearings to the sides of the flue, andwind-guides I, connected to and supported by said tension-rods, substantially as and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me in the presence oftwo subscribin witnesses.

()TTO A. B'ENKENDORF.

*itnesses:

EDWD. W. BYRN, SoLoN (3. KEMON.

